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Have a good weekend.

Where are you heading for the holidays? We're flying out this afternoon to Palm Springs and LA, where we'll be visiting Alex's family. And this year, my dad, brother and sister are also joining, so it will be a fun, noisy group! Please wish us luck on the flight (gulp), and have a wonderful weekend. Here are a few great links from around the web...

Pete Souza has taken thousands of powerful photos of Obama, but here are some sweet and funny ones: one, two, three, four, five.

A reader also emailed me this etiquette question: "For the past two years, my boss has handed me an envelope (with a generous gift card inside). Not sure what to do, I've waited until afterward to open it. Is this appropriate or sketchy? I felt so awkward last year!" Thoughts?

Every February at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI (my college) we do the Cold Knight Sem Pond Jump. I'm sure you can remember how cold it is in February in Michigan ;) They cut a hole in the ice of the pond on campus and we all line up to jump in! Very very cold, but tons of fun!

I think regarding the envelope, take his lead - if he hands it to you and quickly walks away then just open it after he leaves and thank him before the end of the day. If he loiters a little after handing it over then open it right away and say thank you.I think it's nice to at least thank people in person when they give you a gift. We buy gifts to make people happy, after all, and it's nice to see that happiness in their face. :)

safe travels joanna! we're headed to palm springs tomorrow ourselves with our 20 month old and the grandparents and i'm excited for a few days of relaxation before christmas :). i'll definitely be digging up your post from last year for some ideas!

For the reader etiquette question, it doesn't sound like an awkward situation at all, it sounds as though the reader is making it awkward by over-thinking it! If she wants, she can say something like "Thank you so much! Can I open it now? :)"

This is the perfect sort of question for my comedy/advice podcast, The Adviceists with Elisa Markus. I'd say that you should either open it in front of them, so you can say, "Oh wow! $600 at Dishtowels.com! Thanks!" or open it later but in either case, have a nice thank you note to give afterward. A thank you note is always appropriate and counteracts "gift-receivers' guilt". And in the future, have that reader (or any reader!) email the show with their burning etiquette and relationship questions at theadviceists@gmail.com. Happy Festivus!

I find it interesting that several commenters assumed the boss was a man, despite the fact that you made no mention of gender in your post! I am a new Cup of Jo reader and love your blog, especially these Friday posts.

I'd say thank you and I can't wait to open it on Christmas, then give your boss a handwritten thank you after Christmas. I've been a boss that had awkward times like that and the only thing that offended me was no thank you.

If there is a lot of people around, it could be proper and non-offensive to wait to open the gift. However, if it's just one on one and more intimate then it's almost like you have to open it right then and there.

I agree with Mimi, I usually wait until later to open cards (typically they require reading, which can be awkward to do while the giver is sitting there waiting). A nice thank you card or thank you gesture (chocolates, homemade goodies, etc.) after the fact may be the best way to go.

In sum, a sincere thank you is definitely in order...just maybe not right in the moment. You may be saving you and your boss some uncomfortable exchanges by waiting.

Not sure if anyone pointed this out yet... Here's the first review of the banana slicer. Made me laugh out loud...

For decades I have been trying to come up with an ideal way to slice a banana. "Use a knife!" they say. Well...my parole officer won't allow me to be around knives. "Shoot it with a gun!" Background check...HELLO! I had to resort to carefully attempt to slice those bananas with my bare hands. 99.9% of the time, I would get so frustrated that I just ended up squishing the fruit in my hands and throwing it against the wall in anger. Then, after a fit of banana-induced rage, my parole officer introduced me to this kitchen marvel and my life was changed. No longer consumed by seething anger and animosity towards thick-skinned yellow fruit, I was able to concentrate on my love of theatre and am writing a musical play about two lovers from rival gangs that just try to make it in the world. I think I'll call it South Side Story.

It is for this reason that Mirror Sunglasses have become popular sunglasses for officers of law enforcement and military. Their popularity with police officers in theUnited States has earned them the nickname "cop shades". Much like an interrogation room, a suspect is unnerved by looking into a window and being unable to see who or what is looking back at him. It is also for this reason that Mirror Sunglasses are often favored by competitive poker players.

The process of making sunglasses and glasses accessory has come a long way from when Roman Emperor Nero held polished light emerald glass gems up to his eyes and Chinese attached ceramic weights to the ends of ribbons draped over the ears in order to keep on their cool sunglasses.

The process of making sunglasses and glasses accessory has come a long way from when Roman Emperor Nero held polished light emerald glass gems up to his eyes and Chinese attached ceramic weights to the ends of ribbons draped over the ears in order to keep on their cool sunglasses.

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